Paper feeding mechanism of an auto document feeder

ABSTRACT

An paper feeding mechanism has a driving module, a feeding module and a catching module. The feeding module has an active roller, a passive roller connected to the active roller, a shaft connected to the active roller and a rotating gear engaged with the driving module for receiving rotation source from the driving module. The catching module has a pick-up roller with a passive gear, a separating roller with an active gear and a connecting gear interconnecting the active gear and the passive gear. An endless belt interconnects the passive roller of the feeding module and the separating roller of the catching module for transferring the rotation source form the feeding module to the catching module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a paper feeding mechanism. More specifically, a paper feeding mechanism is used in an auto document feeding capable of picking up and separating documents.

2. The Related Art

Many image processing products are popularly used, such as printers, scanners, fax machines, copy machines, etc. An auto document feeder is developed for cooperating with image processing products described above. The auto document feeder can pick up documents from a stack and separate the documents to permit one document to convey to the image processing products.

Therefore, the image processing products can uninterrupted process a large amount the documents without feeding the documents to the image processing products manually. It is more convenient for processing a large amount of documents and saves much time from feeding documents manually.

A conventional paper feeding mechanism 900 is shown in FIG. 5. The conventional paper feeding mechanism 900 has a paper separating module 100′, a paper feeding module 200′ and a driving module 300′. The paper separating module 100′ picks up documents from a stack and separates the documents. The feeding module 200′ permits one document to convey to an image processing machine (not shown in figures). Therefore, the image processing machine processes the documents one by one via the paper feeding mechanism 900′.

The driving module 300′ has a step motor and plurality of gears for providing rotation source to the paper separating module 100′ and the paper feeding module 200′. The paper separating module 100′ has a pick-up roller 110′ and a separating roller 120′, The separating roller 120′ connects a first rotation shaft 420′. One end of the first rotation shaft 420′ connects a first rotation gear 410′. The first rotation gear 410′ engages with one of the gears of the driving module 300′ for transferring rotation source to the paper separating module 100′ through the first rotation shaft 420′.

The paper feeding module 200′ has an active roller 210′ and a passive roller 220′ cooperating with the active roller 210′. The active roller 210′ connects a second rotation shaft 520′. One end of the second rotation shaft 520′ connects a second rotation gear 510′. The second rotation gear 510′ engages with one of the gears of the driving module 300′ for transferring rotation source to the paper feeding module 200′.

The driving module 300′ provides rotation source to the paper separating module 100′ through the first rotation gear 410′ and the first rotation shaft 420′. The driving module 300′ provides rotation source to the paper feeding module 200′ through the second rotation gear 510′ and the second rotation shaft 520′. Therefore, the structure of the conventional paper feeding mechanism 900′ is complex.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a paper feeding mechanism. The paper feeding mechanism has a case receiving a driving module, a feeding module, a catching module and an endless belt. The driving module has a motor and plurality of gears. The feeding module has a active roller, a passive roller with a second engaging portion connected to the active roller, a second shaft connected to the active roller and a rotating gear connected to one end of the second shaft and engaged with one of the gears of the driving module.

The catching module has a pick-up roller, a passive gear connected to the pick-up roller, a separating roller with a first engaging portion, an active gear connected to the separating roller and a connecting gear interconnecting the active gear and the passive gear. The endless belt interconnects the first engaging portion of the separating roller of the catching module and the second engaging portion of the passive roller of the feeding module.

The driving module 4 transfers the rotation source to the active roller 60 of the feeding module 6 through the engagement of the gears 42 of the driving module 4 and the rotation gear 63 of the feeding module 6, and the engagement of the rotation gear 63, the second shaft 62 and the active roller 60 of the feeding module 6. The active roller 60 transfers the rotation source to the passive roller 61 because the active roller 60 is rotated and connected to the passive roller 61.

The driving source providing rotation source to the feeding module through the engagement of the gears of the driving module and the rotating gear of the feeding module. The feeding module transfers the rotation source to the catching module through the endless belt.

Therefore, the catching module can pick up documents and separate the documents to permit one document to convey to the feeding module. The feeding module can convey the document to an image processing machine for processing the document. Therefore, the transmission structure of the paper feeding mechanism is simple.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a paper feeding mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a guiding plate of the paper feeding mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a top cover of the paper feeding mechanism according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the cooperation of a catching module, a feeding module and a driving module of paper feeding mechanism according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a conventional paper feeding mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please refer to FIG. 1. A preferred embodiment of a paper feeding mechanism 100 according to the present invention is shown. The paper feeding mechanism 100 has a case 1, a guiding plate 2 arranged at a front portion of the case 1 and a top cover 3 covering the guiding plate 2. In this case, the case 1 of the paper feeding mechanism 100 is formed as a rectangular shape.

Please refer to FIG. 2. The guiding plate 2 has a through hole 20 opened near an edge thereof, a central hollow 21 formed at a central portion of the guiding plate 2, and side hollows 22 formed at opposite sides of the central hollow 21.

Please refer to FIG. 3. The top cover 3 has a top plate 30, a side plate 31 extending downwardly from the edge of the top plate 30. A first rib 32 and a second rib 33 extend downwardly from the top plate 30. In this case, the top plate 30 is formed as a rectangular shape. The first rib 32 and the second rib 33 are parallel to each other and extend from a central portion of the top plate 30. The first rib 32 and the second rib 33 have a first hole 34 and a second hole 35 respectively. In this case, the first hole 34 and the second hole 35 of the first rib 32 are corresponding to the first hole 34 and the second hole 35 of the second rib 33.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. A driving module 4 is arranged at one side of the front portion of the case 1. The driving module 4 has a driving frame 40 fixed to the case 1, a motor 41 fixed to the driving frame 40 and plurality of gears 42. The motor 41 of the driving module 4 works as a rotation source. In this case, the motor 41 of the driving module 4 is a step motor.

The case 1 contains a catching module 5 and a feeding module 6. The catching module 5 has a first wall 50 and a second wall 51 parallel to the first wall 50. The first wall 50 and the second wall 51 project a first shaft 52 outwardly. A pick-up roller 53 and a separating roller 54 are arranged between the first wall 50 and the second wall 51 and define opposite ends respectively.

One end of the pick-up roller 53 and one end of the separating roller 54 connect the first wall 50. The other end of the pick-up roller 53 and the other end of the separating roller 54 connect the second wall 51. The pick-up roller 53 and the separating roller 54 respectively connect a passive gear 55 and an active gear 56. A connecting gear 57 interconnects the passive gear 55 and the active gear 56. The separating roller 54 has a first engaging portion 58. In this case, the axis of the first shafts 52 and the axis of the separating roller 54 are the same.

The feeding module 6 has an active roller 60 and a passive roller 61 connected to the active roller 60. The active roller 60 connects a second shaft 62. One end of the second shaft 62 connects a rotating gear 63 engaged with one of the gears 42 of the driving module 4. The passive roller 61 has a second engaging portion 64. An endless belt 7 interconnects the first engaging portion 58 of the separating roller 57 of the catching module 5 and the second engaging portion 64 of the passive roller 61 of the feeding module 6.

The guiding plate 2 covers the second shaft 62 of the feeing module 6. The active roller 60 of the feeding module 6 partially projects through the through hole 20 of the guiding plate 2. The passive roller 61 is arranged above the guiding plate 2 and connected to the active roller 60. Two ends of the passive roller 61 engage with the first holes 34 of the first and second ribs 32, 33 of the top cover 3.

The catching module 5 is also arranged above the guiding plate 2. The first shafts 52 of the catching module 5 engage with the second holes of the first and second ribs 32, 33 of the top cover 3. The first wall 50 and the second wall 51 of the catching module 5 are partially received in the side hollows 22 of the guiding plate 2 respectively. The pick-up roller 50 and the separating roller 51 of the catching module 5 are partially received in the central hollow 21 of the guiding plate 2.

The driving module 4 transfers the rotation source to the active roller 60 of the feeding module 6 through the engagement of the gears 42 of the driving module 4 and the rotation gear 63 of the feeding module 6, and the engagement of the rotation gear 63, the second shaft 62 and the active roller 60 of the feeding module 6. The active roller 60 transfers the rotation source to the passive roller 61 because the active roller 60 is rotated and connected to the passive roller 61.

The passive roller 61 of the feeding module 6 transfers the rotation source to the separating roller 54 of the catching module 5 through the endless belt 7 interconnecting therebetween. The separating roller 54 transfers the rotation source to the pick-up roller 63 by the connecting gear 57 interconnecting the active gear 56 of the separating roller 54 with the passive gear 55 of the pick-up roller 53.

Therefore, the pick-up roller 53 can pick up documents and convey the documents to the separating roller 54. The separating roller 54 separates the documents to permit one document to convey to the feeding module 6. The active roller 60 and the passive roller 61 of the feeding module 6 convey the document to an image processing machine (not shown in figures) for processing the document. Therefore, the transmission structure of the paper feeding mechanism 100 is simple.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above; various additions, alterations and the like may be made within the scope of the present invention by a person skilled in the art. For example, respective embodiments may be appropriately combined. 

1. A paper feeding mechanism, comprising: a case; a driving module received in said case and having a motor and plurality gears; a feeding module received in said case and having an active roller, a passive roller with a second engaging portion connected to said active roller, a second shaft connected to said active roller and a rotating gear connected to one end of said second shaft and engaged with one of said gears of said driving module; a catching module received in said case and having a pick-up roller with a passive gear, a separating roller with an active gear and a first engaging portion and a connecting gear interconnecting said passive gear of said pick-up roller and said active gear of said separating roller; and an endless belt interconnecting said first engaging portion of said separating roller of said catching module and said second engaging portion of said passive roller of said feeding module.
 2. The paper feeding mechanism in claim 1, wherein catching module has a first wall, a second wall parallel to said first wall and a first shaft projected from said first wall and said second wall, said first shaft projects outwardly, said pick-up roller and said separating roller are arranged between said first wall and said second wall.
 3. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein the axis of said first shaft and the axis of said separating roller are the same.
 4. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a guiding plate arranged at a front portion of said case and a top cover covering said guiding plate.
 5. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said guiding plate has a through hole opened on one edge thereof, a central hollow formed at a central portion thereof and side hollows formed at opposite sides of said central hollow.
 6. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein said guiding plate covers said second shaft of said feeding module, said active roller of said feeding module projects through said thought hole of said guiding plate, said pick-up roller and said separating roller of said catching module are partially received in said central hollow of said guiding plate, said first wall and said second wall of said catching module are partially received in said side hollows respectively.
 6. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein said top cover has a top plate, a side plate extending downwardly from the edge of said top plate, a first rib and a second rib extending downwardly from a central portion of said top plate and parallel to each other, said first rib and said second rib have a corresponding first hole and a corresponding second hole.
 7. The paper feeding mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein two ends of said passive roller engage with said first hole of said first and second ribs of said top cover respectively, said first shafts of said catching module engage with said second hole of said top cover respectively. 